Individual condiment container



Oct. 23, 1934. D. 0. FORD INDIVIDUAL CONDIMENT CONTAINER 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1935 Da vz'z/ 0. Fa

m M m w Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES INDIVIDUAL CONDIMENT CONTAINER,

David 0. Ford, Lynchburg, Va., assignor to The Velporr Corporation, Lynchburg, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application September 5, 1933, Serial No. 688,250

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an individual package or container for salt, pepper, or other condiments usually dispensed by means of a shaker.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character adapted to contain suflicient condiment for a single service or setting and which may be discarded or destroyed after use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an individual sanitary condiment container constructed of Cellophane and in the form of a normally sealed envelope or jacket whereby the contents of the envelope will be effectually protected from moisture and a free flow of the condiiment assured when dispensing the same.

A further object is to provide the envelope or container with a plurality of individual pull or rip tabs of different sizes arranged at one end of the envelope and adapted to be selectively manipulated to govern or control the volume of condiment dispensed from the container.

A further object is to so arrange the pull or rip tabs that they gradually decrease in width from one edge of the container to the other so that the user may conveniently select and actuate the particular tab which will permit the discharge of the amount of condiment best suited to his in-- dividual use.

A further object of the invention is to provide 7 [era-lly to improve this class of devices so. as to increase their utility, durabilityand efficiency.

In the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a condiment container constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a similar viewshowingone of the pull or rip tabs in elevated position to permit the discharge of the contents of the container,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the container is formed,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the upper corners 'of the container showing the closing flap in elevated position The improved condiment holder or container, forming the subject matter of the present invention, is preferably in the form of a flat substantially rectangular envelope or jacket 5 formed of Cellophane so that the package will be effectually sealed against the entrance of dampness or moisture and the free flow of lint-Contents of the container assured when dispensing the same. The envelope or container is preferably formed from a blank of the construction shown in Figure 4 of the drawing and comprises a back wall or section 6 having integral laterally extending wings '7 adapted to be overlapped and glued or otherwise fastened together at 8 to form the front wall 9 of the container. Depending from the back wall or section 6 is an integral bottom flap 10 which is folded upwardly on the line 11 against and in contact with the front wall 9 and to which it is glued or otherwise permanently secured as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The upper end of the back wall or section 6 is extended longitudinally to form a top flap 12 adaptedto be pressed downwardly on the fold line 13' to form a closure for the discharge end of the container. Depending from the top closure flap 12 are a plurality of separate finger pieces or tabs 14 gradually decreasing in width from one vertical edge of the envelope to the other, the purpose of which is to control the volume or flow of the condiment when dispensing the same. The opposite side edges of the pull or rip tabs 14, at their junction with the closing flap 12, are provided with .cuts or incisions 15, and the Cellophane is scored or perforated in alinement with said incisions, as indicated at 16, to weaken the tabs and permit them to be readily elevated or detached to expose the contents of the container. The upper end of the front wall 9 preferably terminates short of the fold line 13 and the closing flap 12 is glued or otherwise secured to the upper end of the front wall 9 be- 7 tween the lines 1'? and 18.

It will here be noted that the incisions 15 extend'partially-across the adhesive zone defined by the lines 17 and 18 while the scored or perforated portions 16 of the tabs extend from said incisions up to and intersect, the fold line 13. By constructing the tabs in this manner, an initial upward pull on any particular tab will cause it to be readily separated from the adhesive surface between the lines 1'7 and 18 and a further upward pull on the tab will detach the tab along the line of scores or perforations 16 so as to expose the contents of the container and permit the contentsto be readily discharged through the opening 19 formed by the removal or elevation of the adjacent tab. The wings 7, at their junction with the back 6, are preferably formed with vertical corner strips 20, adapted to be folded inwardly, as shown, with their upper ends overlapping and bearing against the closing flap 12, as best shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, so that when the closing flap 12 is folded downwardly and secured to the front wall 9 of the envelope the strips. 20 will be folded and thus effectually seal the corners of the envelope or container and prevent accidental escape of the contents thereof.-

It will be noted that the lower ends of the rip or pull tabs 14 depend below the lower edge of the closing flap l2 and in convenient position to be grasped by the fingers of the user when it is 5 desired to open the envelope and permit the dis- "served their purpose.

charge of the contents thereof. more be noted that inasmuch as the pull or rip tabs are independent of each other and gradually decrease in width fromone edge of the container to the other, the user may conveniently select the particular tab which will permit the discharge of the amount of condiment best suited to his individual use. For instance, where a relatively large volume of salt or other condiment is desired for immediate use, the large pull tab 14 willbe elevated or detached, and where a relatively small volume of condiment is required, as in'seasoning vegetables 'or imparting a saline taste to beer, one of the smaller tabs will be elevated. In this manner, the quantity or flow of the condiment discharged from the container may be regulated according to the requirements of the individual user. Inasmuch as the container is'relatively flat, either the front or the rear of the contain r or both may be used for dis- It will, of course, be understood that the containers or envelopes may be made in different sizes and shapes and any desired advertising indicia may be printed or otherwise impressed on the exterior thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The containers are especially convenient for use at picnic parties, motor parties and for individual use in restaurants and other places.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A condiment holder including a container having a closure flap provided with a plurality of independent rip tabs extending below the lower edge thereof'to form finger-engaging por- 'tions and decreasing in width from one edge of the container to the other.

2. A condiment holder including an envelope having its front wall of less height than its rear wall to form a discharge opening, a flap nor- 'mally closing the discharge opening, and independent rip tabs forming a part of the closure flap and having their lower ends extended below the lower edge of said flap to form fingerengaging portions.

3. A condiment holder including an envelope having a back wall and a front wall spaced from the upper end of the back wall to form a discharge opening, a flap normally closing the discharge opening and secured to the front wall 'by adhesive material, and a plurality of rip tabs of difierent widths forming a part of the closure flap and having their lower ends extended below the lower edge of the flap and beyond the adhesive material to formfinger-engaging portions.

4. A condiment holder including an envelope having a back wall and a front wall spaced from the upper end of the back wall to form a discharge opening, a flap normally closing the discharge opening andsecured to the front wall 'by adhesive material, and rip tabs forming a It will further-' part of the closure flap and having their lower ends extended below the lower edge of the flap and beyond the adhesive material to form fingerengaging portions, there being incisions on opposite sides of the rip tabs and extending partially across the adhesive material.

5. A condiment holder including an envelope having a back wall and a front wall spaced from the upper end of the back wall to form a discharge opening, a flap normally closing the discharge opening and secured to the front wall by adhesive material, and rip tabs forming a part of the closure flap and having their lower ends extended below the lower edge of said flap and beyond the adhesive material to form fingerengaging portions, there being incisions formed on opposite sides of the rip tabs and extending partially across the adhesive material, and perforations disposed in alinement with said incisions and extending therefrom to the upper end of the closure flap.

6. A condiment holder including an envelope having a back wall and a front wall spaced from the upper end of the back wall to form adischarge opening, a flap normally closing said discharge opening and secured to the front wall byadhesive material, the lower edge of the flap being notched to provide independentrip tabs extending below said lower edge and said adhesive material to form finger-engaging portions, there-being incisions formed at said notches and extending partially across the adhesive material, and weakened portions formed in the closure flap in alinement with the incisions.

'7. A condiment holder including a substantially fiat rectangular envelope having a back 8. A condiment holder comprising a moistureproof envelope having a back wall and a front wall, the upperedge of which is spaced from the upper edge of the back wall to form a discharge opening, a'flap forming a part of the back wall secured to the upper portion of the front wall by adhesive material and serving to normally close the discharge opening, corner strips forming a part of the front wall bearing against and secured to the closure flap, and a plurality of rip tabs forming a part of the closure flap and having weakened portions extending partially across the adhesive material, said rip tabs gradually decreasing in width from one edge of the'envelope to the other.

9. A blank for condiment holders formed from a single strip of material and comprising a central portion having a bottom flap and oppositely disposed side wings, the upper end of the central portion being extended longitudinally to form a closure flap and the end of said fiap being notched to form rip tabs decreased in width from one side of the central portion to the other, corner strips forming a part of the wings, there being a fold line extending transversely across the central portion immediately below the rip tabs, and incisions formed on opposite sides of each rip tab. .DAVID 0. FORD. [r.. s.] 

